Little Prince

Chapter 4

Marshall's eyes fluttered open to the dim lighting of his quarters. He layed sprawled upon his bed eyes heavy as the sun slowly arises spewing light in the same manner as a volcano would spew lava. He slowly slid from his bed and sluggishly slinked into his shower.

After a shower in boiling hot water he had dried and dressed in his usual training garb until a sudden thought disrupted his cloudy mind. Today he was six and he would be receiving the prince jewel from his father. He immediately began to strip off his usual attire with vigor as he thought of all the festivities that would be in his honor. He became ecstatic as he gracefully slipped into his formal wear as not to rip the silky fabric. While it was quite tough he wanted to look his best and being careful played a great deal in that. He stood in his navy blue short sleeve jump suit shiny chest plate, which proudly displayed the crest of his house, and a orange-red cape to compliment the whole piece.

The King paced in his throne room with enough strength to completely decimate the entirety of the wooden floor beneath him. Rocky would be here in mere minutes to take his son away from him. He'd be alone, the brat had killed his wife during birth, the child was all he had left. But he had to protect his people, he was their King. He had made the right decision, right?

Rocky's hovercraft zoomed through the castle halls. Today he would collect a treat; a new pet.

Marshall rushed into the hall, while ecstatic he managed to keep his stoic facade and overall appeared calm and unenthusiastic, the complete opposite of the excitement that bounced around inside of him. His gaze rested upon his father who only moments before had been engraving his feet into the once plush maroon rug. Marshall noticed the nervousness and sadness that plagued the King even through his nonchalant appearance. Marshall's eyebrow quirked in inquiry, he had never seen his father like this.

“My son,” the king addressed Marshall, sounding more rattled than he had thought he would. He cleared his throat in a vain attempt to calm his shaking voice. “The man you met the other day, Rocky, he's going to take you upon his ship and you are going to become one of his soldiers. You are doing this as an act for your people. Do you understand?”

“But father I don't want to leave,” Marshall spat out hastily while shaking his head to show his discontent with the idea. He wanted to stay on his planet the he would rule one day, he didn't want to live on a ship with some lizard. “Why don't you just kill him?”

“I can't” the King whispered shaking his head solemnly, his eyes downcast with his hands tightly at either side of his bulky body. “He will be here in a mere matter of moments, so be ready. I'm sending Uva with you as guard.” The King turned away to stare blankly at the wall, blinking back forth coming tears. He may never see the boy again, but he still had his pride to keep intact.

“But father,” Marshall stuttered out.

“No, stop you will do as I say now.” His father began to walk into the hallway where Rocky resided. Without turning his back and in a voice barely audible to the other occupant of the room the King whispered, “and never forget your pride boy.” The King then disappeared into the corridor.